>> reporter: that was nearly a decade ago when he was u.s. surgeon general. >> obesity increases the risk of diabetes dramatically. it increases the risk of heart disease, of stroke, of hyper tension. increases the risk of many forms of cancer. and when you think about the cost of health care and the role that chronic diseases play, obesity is a major factor in all of those chronic diseases i've just listed. >> reporter: those costs are staggering. >> about $147 billion a year are spent directly related to obesity and the underlying health conditions related to that. that compares with all the cancers that people have across america which costs a little under $100 women i don't know a year. one-and-a-half times as much money is spent. >> reporter: obesity is determined by your body mass index. a rough calculation of body fat based on your height and weight. so if you're 5'10" like i am and tip the scales at up to 173 pounds your weight is considered normal. 174 to 208 pounds you're overeight. and 209 pounds and upward qualifies as obese. and